Its predecessor had set the bar so high that it seemed it would be a tough task for Gangs of Wasseypur 2 to meet the expectations on the music front. Yet, surprisingly it manages to reach the benchmark and that too quite well. The folksy flavour of Sneha Khanwalkar’s music from Gangs of Wasseypur continues in the album with 13 tracks. But one warning – this soundtrack may not be everybody’s cup of tea!

The musical journey starts off with Chi cha leather. It captures the essence of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar and has been sung with a countryside touch by 12-year-old Durga. The composer mixes the instruments in a conducive manner and the racy track instantly grabs your attention. The music blends superbly with the vocals.

Kaala rey (Coal Bazaari) reflects a dark mood. The sounds of the instruments are minimised at various intervals and Sneha’s voice takes centrestage. She nearly hypnotises the listener with the gloomy yet mesmerising vocals. Quite an unusual track, but one that will surely grow on you. The sound is good and the chorus lends good support as well.

The listeners can get a taste of Bhojpuri flavour with the harmonica-backed Electric piya. The lyrics are funny and Rasika D Rani’s voice leaves a smile. However, the composition isn’t too impressive. It also has a fused version, which is more high-pitched with a lot more instruments. But it doesn’t do wonders either. Compared to the other numbers in the album, this one’s definitely average.

The next one is an interesting rap titled Bahut khoob. It has been crooned by Kids of Musahar Village. There are some words thrown in here and there, and they are backed with a little sound. That’s all! The song also has an eight-bit version, which has some additional techno kind of touch. It would be interesting to see how this one has been used in the movie.

Taar bijli is a mischievous desi ladies Sangeet song by Padmashree Sharda Sinha. Traditional instruments like harmonium and dholak have been used to create the desired effect.

Then there are also songs like Perpendicular theme and Tunya, which should be listened only if you like melody. There are no lyrics herein and these numbers just showcase the musical genius of the composer’s convergence of sounds.

Piyush Mishra gets good company in Bhupesh Singh for a satirical qawaali Aabroo. It mellows down the slight overdose of sounds and lets one enjoy the song through its lyrics and vocals.

Moora is a very different track as it combines the local and the modern electronic sounds; one imagines a guy from Calypso soil strumming along with Sneha, whose voice is fantastic again. Its romantic tone suggests that it will be played on to support the chemistry of actors Huma Qureshi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. There is another ‘Morning‘ version by Deepika, which is equally good.

The track Keh ke loonga has become synonymous with Gangs of Wasseypur. KKL presents the track in a new and heavier avatar. Interplay of sounds, dubstep mash-ups and electronic loops get the adrenaline rushing. This one is a winner and one of the best among the lot.

Go for this soundtrack if you enjoyed listening to its predecessor. The rustic touch is still very much there, but the canvas of the music is much larger and explosive.